Bible Helps on Who/What/How to Pray

Jan8

Last November, after asking God to show me how to pray more wisely and fervently, and for the people that HE desired, I looked to His Word for guidance. To the back of His Word to be exact. I looked up PRAY in my Bible’s concordance and started studying the verses listed. They really opened my eyes and I began to pray for the people who came to mind with each of those passages.

I spent several days – maybe even a week – on each one, praying for those whom God revealed from each set of verses. And I would often go back and review the whole list up to that day.

Soon after that, I wrote the post, “Using My Bible’s Concordance to Pray” (http://bit.ly/1InncvX), hoping that it might inspire YOU to try it.

Bible study     I found about 16 verses in the Old Testament and 24 in the New Testament of my concordance (yours may be different, depending on the version you use). Some verses were very similar and I grouped these together.

Here are a few more that I found in the Old Testament:

6. pray for the “wicked” that God would repay injustice on them, or…. if they repent, that He would show them mercy. (You’ll find lots of these in today’s news, and they are hard to pray for.)

7. pray for myself by confessing my sin and my need to depend on God.

8. pray for those who are burdened, depressed, and despondent because of the battles going on in their lives. (emotional, marital, physical, spiritual)

9. pray for peace in Jerusalem (that the Gospel would be proclaimed, heard, and believed; so that the perfect peace of God would reign in hearts)

10. pray for those who worship idols (literally, in 3rd world countries, and here in the US, where we make money, fame, possessions – anything that we desire more than knowledge and fellowship with God – into an idol)

11. pray for “kings and governments.” I included law makers, legislators, the military, financial, economic & health leaders, police, courts, judges etc., so that we can live peaceable lives and have freedom to share the Gospel. (specific names, if you can – remember this is an election year!)

12. AND THEN CAME A FEW SCARY PASSAGES!  We are NOT to pray for, intercede for, or cry out to God for – people who willfully refuse to hear His Word, obey His commandments, or repent. We are to only warn them. (especially hard if these are loved ones, but trust God)

A week before Christmas, I began on the New Testament references for PRAY.

13. (this one out of order, but I was studying in there) pray for the children of the faithful – that they will “walk in the truth.”

14. pray for those who persecute you for righteousness’ sake

Bible study.prayer15. (A how-to passage) pray with the heart attitudes that Jesus taught his disciples, avoiding those that “puff up” your ego (those won’t be heard anyway).

16. (Another how to passage) pray the “attitudes and aspects” of the “Lord’s Prayer.”

And that’s where I am today.  I will spend more time on #15 and #16 before going on. There is so much to learn about the way of praying that God hears, loves and answers.

STAYED TUNED, I know there is so much more I (we) can learn in the New Testament about WHO to pray for, WHY they need prayer, and HOW to pray for them as God desires.  Be sure to let God bring specific people to mind as you study, and pray for them that day, week, or however often you recall them. Otherwise this study is only “head knowledge.”

Thank, You Father for showing me this way to pray for others. Help me to fellowship and commune with You in prayer and Bible study every day.

How Do You Answer Such questions?

Jan5

What day is this?

“Why, it’s Tuesday.” (There’s only one answer to this one, although you might add the month and date, depending.)

What am I supposed to be doing? I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing!

“The laundry, washing the dishes, taking out the trash, writing thank-you notes, feeding the dog….”  (lots of answers to this question, depending on the time and situation and person).

Question marks1But, what if these questions are asked repeatedly, over and over, in an unceasing, annoying, frustrating, pull-your-hair-out-by-the-roots-and-scream way, many, many times a day?

What if they are asked by someone you love, someone who is struggling mentally to understand?

The easiest (but perhaps not the best) way to reply is to answer their question directly.

Then answer the question a second time.

old man2Then, answer it again. And again. Try not to let your voice get sharper and your blood pressure higher. Try not to say, “You just ASKED that question, aren’t you LISTENING?” or “Why do you want to KNOW?” or “It’s TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY!!!” (By that time, it may be Wednesday. You might have to check your calendar.)

But that’s just it. YOU can check your calendar with understanding. YOU can see what you need to do, where you need to go, who you need to call, what event is coming up that you need to prepare for.

They probably can’t.

How about that second question? It’s maybe a bit easier to keep your cool because you can answer it – at first – in a variety of ways. “Oh, honey, all you have to do is just sit there and look at your magazine.”  “Oh, nothing. Just enjoy the sunshine.”  “Right now, just finish your sandwich.” “Nothing! You aren’t supposed to be doing ANYTHING….Sweetheart.”

old lady3For a loved one who has worked hard all their life, been on a busy schedule with lots of responsibilities, to not have anything to do is frightening and worrisome.

What if they are forgetting something important? What if they are supposed to be some where and will get into trouble if they don’t show up? What if…?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve had only a little experience with questions like this.  And I admit, I am not a good care giver. I’m not patient and kind, as the scripture says. Not long-suffering and slow to anger, as God is. Not loving and gentle, as Jesus was with the little children, which is what so many of our elderly are becoming like.

It’s so frustrating. It’s so heart-breaking.

While I was praying this morning and reading the Bible, God gave me some wonderful ANSWERS to those questions.

What day is this?

old man.woman“This is the day that the LORD has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!” (Perhaps sing a song or two that they have known, or a simple chorus. Encourage them to sing along. If they are able, encourage them to get up and dance a few steps.)

This is the day of salvation! Let’s not harden our hearts against God, but say aloud all the wondrous things  He has done for us, especially for saving us from our sin, by sending Jesus to die in our place!

(Say honestly and with sincerity, “Thank you, LORD!” Encourage them to think about what they are thankful for. This may be hard, but keep at it, give them hints.)

What am I supposed to be doing? I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing!
old lady woman4Here are some wonderful things from God’s Word that you can tell them they are “supposed to be doing” (as are all believers):

–Rejoice in the Lord. (Show them how!)

–Sing songs, hymns, choruses (aloud and to themselves).

–Pray for a friend (or an enemy or a missionary). You begin and let them pray too.

–Confess your sins to God. (Remind them He forgives.)

–Share (preach) the Gospel. (Have them tell their testimony – how they were saved – if only to YOU, it will be priceless, I promise, and they are sure to remember long ago events.)

–Praise (magnify) God for some of his attributes. (Loving, slow to anger, compassionate, powerful, kind, forgiving, healing, protecting.)

–Read the Bible. (If they can, or talk about familiar passages they might know or have memorized.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m encouraged by this.  Maybe it won’t satisfy them in the long run, but I can turn some of these frustrating times (and annoying repetitive questions) into precious moments spent with a loved one,  together with the LORD.

 

 

Forgetting and Pressing On

Jan1

HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2016

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ~~~ Philippians 3:13-14

Sometime in the future I want to write a post on Forgetting and Remembering – the things that God forgets and the things we are to forget, and the things that God remembers and those we are to remember – but for now, on this first day of January in 2016, I want to write about FORGETTING and PRESSING ONWARD.

Happy New Year 6

Yes, December 31st is always a good time to review the previous year, remembering what happened in those 365 days; how God used them to teach you, discipline you, encourage you, and grow you. A good way is to peruse your journals (if you keep them) or your prayer lists, or even your appointment calendar.

You will find that GOD has been faithful beyond any expectations, and that YOU have failed Him in many ways and at many times.  But you will also find, if you have truly sought Him in prayer and Bible reading, that you are – with His omnipotent help – becoming more like Jesus.

In the opening scripture, that is just what the upward call of God IS – to be transformed more and more into the image of His Son.

Happy New Year 7

 

So, today, on January 1st, resolve (if you make no other resolutions) to press on toward that “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

How?

PRAY and ask God to give you a heart for Him; a humble, repentant, teachable heart. Ask Him to show you your sins and give you the strength by His Spirit to forsake them and not yield an inch to them…ever.  Tell Him of your desire to love and know Him more. Ask Him to guide you every day, and then follow that guidance.  IN everything and FOR everything, give thanks to Him (it’s a sacrifice of sorts, I know) for, if you truly want to follow Him, all those things are in His will for you, and will work for your good and for His glory.

READ the Bible a lot! Daily, several times a day. Listen to it being read and explained. Study it. Memorize it as God leads you. Ask Him to open the eyes and ears of your understanding so your knowledge of HIM will increase; not just intellectual knowledge (which brings pride), but heart knowledge (which will humble you). Long to truly know Him, as an intimate friend who will never leave you, as a dear Father who loves you unconditionally, as a constant companion to comfort and guide you, and as the savior of your eternal soul. Soak in the Words of His book. Sing them. Pray them back to God. Rejoice in them.

 

Happy New Year 5

 

 

 

 

Where Do I Do My Banking?

Dec1

Offering plateOne day Jesus and His disciples were watching the offering box at the Temple. (Mark 12:41-44) As they watched, many rich people put in large amounts. (That’s good, right? The priests and their families need support, the Temple needs upkeep. The rich people need tax deductions.) I can imagine the disciples giving a group “thumb’s up” sign.

Then a poor widow woman put in two pennies. She took her little coin purse, turned it upside down, and shook out those last two coins. Or more likely…she carried them all the way from home in her hand, tucked under her shawl, having emptied the last of her earnings jar before she came. She probably slipped them into the box making no noise at all.

But, you may think, what can two pennies buy? Some people won’t even bend over to pick up a penny from the sidewalk. Perhaps the disciples shook their heads at the uselessness and sadness of such a small offering.

But Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”

Huh?

He continued, “For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Jesus explained that the rich gave a percentage of what they had, while the widow gave all she had.

More actual cash from the rich men went into the Temple coffers, but more investment value from the widow reached Heaven’s treasury.

How strange is God’s bookkeeping. He considers things of lasting value, like heart generosity and sacrificial giving, more important than obligated giving. (Philippians 4:18*)

Yes, wise, carefully calculated donations are important, but God doesn’t really need our money.  He owns everything (Psalm 50:10-12*). He can give us all we need or ever ask for from the vast riches He has. (Philippians 4:19*) God wants our heart. He loves a contrite heart, a poor-in-spirit, humble, depending-on-Him-alone heart. This He praises and rewards. This glorifies Him. (Psalm 51:16-17*, Matthew 5:3*)

“Man sees on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

 

Lord, you see my  heart. You see the discontent and greed and coveting that I hold dear, and You see the struggle I have to defeat those sins. You see my worldliness, my love of things, my stinginess. But You also see my desire to know and to love You foremost…to treasure You above everything.   

Help me release to You all I hold dear, and give You my “last penny,” my future, my life… and then joyfully depend on You, O, Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of the universe and all that is in it. (Luke 12:32-34*)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

*Philippians 4:18 – “I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received …the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

*Psalm 50:10-12 – “For every beast of the forest is mine; the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

*Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

*Psalm 51:16-17 – “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.”

*Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

*Luke 12:32-34 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Using My Bible’s Concordance to Pray

Nov27

HAVE YOU EVER USED YOUR BIBLE’S CONCORDANCE as a source of Bible Study or Devotional?

I don’t mean to find a particular scripture you need, but to choose A WORD, then go down the list of references on that word in your Bible – one-by-one – and consider what God might say to you about your subject… for that day or week.

(You can also use a Topical Bible, such as Nave’s if you have one.)

Recently, I’ve been wanting my prayer life to be stronger, meatier. I’ve read a few books on how to do that and heard a few sermons. Then I decided to go to the Book of Books and see how God would instruct me there.

BibleConcordanceUsing the concordance on my old KJV (which has many more references to subjects than the ESV version I read), I looked up the word PRAY, and beginning at the first one in the Old Testament, I read the referenced verse, then the surrounding verses in the passage.

I am amazed each time I do this to discover how and for what God wants me to pray. Thus far in the last couple weeks ( from Genesis, 1 Samuel, 2 Chronicles & Ezra), I’ve found:

1. pray for “good” people who need salvation (I listed a few friends who came mind.)

2. pray for believers struggling with sin in their lives (a few more listed – including myself)

3. pray for those who willfully sin and need discipline

4. pray for our country (America specifically) and the repentance and seeking God that needs to happen…beginning with believers.

5. pray for “the king & his sons” which I took to mean our president and his family. (I admit this is a hard one for me, but when I wrote down all their names, it got easier.) I begin by praying another verse from 3 John for them; “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

I’m looking forward to what is next on the list – in a few days.

Does this sound like something YOU might like to do with prayer or perhaps with other subjects?  I’d love to hear your journey.

A month’s worth of daily prayers from James

Nov2

A way to use scripture to direct my heart to Him each day in prayer. (Copy and print them out in two columns, fold over and put in your Bible for your quiet times.)

12144585-hands-folded-in-prayer-over-open bible

  1. Help me to joyfully thank You for trials and testing today, knowing that they produce patience and spiritual maturity in me. (1:2-4)
  1. Remind me to confidently ask for wisdom and help in trials, knowing that you will give it. (1:5)
  1. Strengthen my faith, keep me from doubting Your promises. (1:6-7)
  1. Help me recognize and resist the temptations that come from my own flesh and from the world. (1:13-14, 27 b)
  1. Thank You for all the good and perfect gifts You give me. (1:17)
  1. Thank You for being unchangeable, steadfast and faithful. (1:17)
  1. Help me to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. (1:19)
  1. Thank You for saving me! (1:21 b)
  1. Help me to truly hear and obey Your word, and not just study it intellectually. (1:22-25)
  1. Keep me from sinning with my words today. (1:26)
  1. Show me how to demonstrate Your love and compassion to the sick and needy today.  (1:27)
  1. Keep me from showing partiality to others for what it will profit me. (2:1-7)
  1. Help me to demonstrate love for others by my actions. Show me how to be merciful and kind. (2:12-13)
  1. Teach me to give generously to the needy. (2:15-16)
  1. Keep me from being proud of my salvation. Remind me that faith is a gift and not something that I have worked for. (2:19-23)
  1. In my desire to teach others, protect me from error, and keep me from arrogant pride. (3:1-2a)
  1. Teach me how to bridal my tongue, knowing that I am otherwise useless to You. (3:3-4)
  1. Remind me how much evil and hurt my words can do to others. May my words today contain only blessings and affirmation. (3:5-10)
  1. Give me a wise and understanding heart. Let Your perfect wisdom guide every decision. (3:13)
  1. Cleanse me of bitterness, jealousy, and selfish ambition. (3:14-16)
  1. Help me be open to reason, peaceful, gentle, sincere, and full of good fruit and works. (3:1 7-18)
  1. Keep me from a quarrelsome attitude. (4:1-2)
  1. Teach me how to pray unselfishly.(4:3)
  1. Show me how to humble myself before You today. Thank You for your promise of grace. (4:6-10)
  1. Keep me from speaking evil of fellow believers, from criticizing or belittling them. (4:11-12)
  1. Help me always to seek Your will before making plans for the day and to wait patiently for Your direction. (4:13-16)
  1. Help me to do the right thing, even if it is hard or costly or humbling. (4:17)
  1. Keep me from loving money. Instead, focus my eyes on Your faithfulness and care for me. (5:1-3)
  1. Help me to be content in every hard situation and trial, and to rest in Your promises and presence. (5:7-11)
  1. Help my words to always be trustworthy. Keep me from any lies or deceit. (5:12)
  1. Teach me to pray with faith in all ways and circumstances: joyfully praise You, fervently intercede for others and myself, honestly confess my sins, knowing You hear and answer. (5:13-16)

 

 

Baa-baa FAT sheep!

Oct27

Reading Ezekiel 34:1-31 this morning (Yeah, strange, huh? But that’s where the reading list sent me.)

First the Lord condemns BAD SHEPHERDS of Israel: those who reap the wool, milk/curds, and meat of their flocks for themselves, not caring for the animals – neither the good ones nor the sick and weak ones, not looking for the lost lambs, letting the wolves get them.

Next the chapter talks about BAD SHEEP. Yep, you heard me. The verses describe them as “fat” sheep (as opposed to the “lean” ones).

~~~They eat their fill of green pastures, then tramp the rest of the grass down so nothing is left for the others.
~~~They drink their fill from cool, clear, still waters, then walk all through it to muddy it for the other sheep.
~~~They push and shove and butt each other to get the best for themselves.

MEAN, huh? Surely there can’t be any of those in the Lord’s congregation!

The last third of the chapter speaks of the Sovereign Lord himself as the GOOD SHEPHERD taking care of the sheep, feeding them and letting them lie down in green pastures beside cool still water, binding up the weak and lame, searching for the lost ones and bringing them home.

Reminds me of Psalm 23 (shepherd & sheep)

And of Jesus in John 10:7-16  (the Good Shepherd)

And, on third thought, also of  1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34 (bad sheep)

DO SOME READING IN THE BIBLE TODAY  about sheep and their caretakers – you will be blessed indeed. (click on the above references)

Baaaaa.

Thought Control

May5

Thinking man Psalm 139:23-24 ~~~ “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ~~~ “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 

Philippians 4:8 ~~~ “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”

*******

A close family relative is suffering with early to mid-stage dementia. She still knows us, but does not remember the things we’ve told her we’ve been doing….even twenty minutes before. She will often ask the same questions over and over, which can try the patience. An exasperated, ill-thought-out retort will sometimes bring on tears, though we are instantly sorry. The tears will occasionally turn into a day long funk.

A brief visit will reveal her loss of short term memory quite soon, but her long term memory is still pretty good, remembering people and events from long ago. She is quite able to get around for herself without mechanical help though she is in her 90’s. Not bad, we think, until we stay longer, or hear from her caregiver.

Why is it we are never freed from our old sin nature while we live on this earth? Why do lapses return when we are most vulnerable? When I am over-tired or stressed or have a headache, I will often retort sharply or react with anger to people or situations that bother me. I get irritated and annoyed and frustrated. Often I say things I regret. Sometimes a bit of profanity escapes.  I simmer and fume, or feel sorry for myself and mope.

But…. in a little while when I finally recognize what I’m doing, I am sorrowful and go to God to confess and to receive His forgiveness. All is well; peace returns.

But with short term memory loss, the words are spoken, the deeds are done, (sometimes quite shocking) and there is no memory of it later to bring conviction and repentance. So the person is at the mercy of their sinful nature raising its ugly head, even though they have given their heart to God and trust in Christ’s atoning death for their salvation.

What a cruel attribute of an aging/ailing believer’s mind!

I don’t know if it is possible to pray (to confess) for another whose mind is lost, but I do! I ask God to forgive her for these weaknesses.  I plead for Him to be gracious and merciful, and forgive, and to bring her peace.

O Sovereign God, You can do anything. Redeem the years “the locusts have eaten!” Let your light shine within her mind and redeem and restore.

Today, merciful God, let her begin to THINK on things that are TRUE, such as, Jesus is her Savior, and she is Your child. Let her begin to make her way back to You in the corridors of her mind, through Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life.  Today, let her think on (dwell on) whatever is true. Let no falsehood of thought or emotion intrude!

And Your Word is true. Bring your Word, the Bible, to her notice today. May she pick it up, open it and read TRUTH. May this powerful “Sword of the Spirit” defend her mind against the rising of her old natural tendencies!

“Is My hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?”  ~~~ Isaiah 50:2b  

Yes, Lord, You can!

*******

I have continued daily to pray the things we are to “think on” from Philippians 4 – one each day – for this person, and am trusting God to honor His word and give her the peace that passes all understanding to guard her heart and mind.

Also…. I have purposed in my heart to read and commit more and more of God’s Word to memory, that – as He promised – it might “keep me from sinning” in my own old age.  Psalm 119:11.

Confession and Forgiveness

May4

1 John 1:8-9 ~~~ “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “

angry wifeThis morning I got angry because the plans I’d made for the day were foiled.  I had carefully planned a day trip, which involved my hubby (which he had previously agreed to) and a visit to a family member, a pleasant lunch, and — using the car pool lane to drive the 70 miles through Los Angeles.  Over the weekend, however, Hubby made different plans unbeknownst to me, and declared that we would be having company at our house that morning.  

What? Had he forgotten MY plans? 

I stated (inwardly seething) that I would then go alone (suffer the congested traffic both ways) and HE could stay at home and meet HIS friends.  I did not, of course want him to agree, but he said eagerly, “Okay, if you are sure you don’t mind.”

Don’t mind?  YES, I minded, but I am stubborn of heart and stiff of neck. I oh-so-sweetly put my things in the car and backed out of the driveway. My heart was not loving and kind or happy. It was vindictive and petulant. I am sure I cut off several innocent drivers on the freeway and thought nasty thoughts about everyone for most of the hour and a half drive. It was only by God’s grace that I was not rewarded with a ticket or worse.

The visit was pleasant and by the time I left to come home I was almost over my grouchiness. I GUESS it had turned out okay, I thought reluctantly.   But later, when I sat down with my Bible for “quiet time” with my God, I knew it hadn’t.  The anger and petulance of the morning now stood between me and fellowship with Him, and I cried out in dismay.

*******

O my Father, I have sinned again today. I sin everyday, often. I am continually walking through mud puddles of sin; muck, dirt, dust, dung.  I try to avoid it, but I both blindly and willfully sin, like today.  Father I want to DIE to sin! I hate it, but I keep allowing my old sinful nature to reign.

I confess, I felt resentment and jealousy, and anger, and spite. But right now, I feel regret and sorrow for the words I spoke, for my foolishness and immaturity. Lord, I hate these sins!  I need washing!

I want to be loving sacrificially, as YOU love, not demanding my own way or pouting or going off in a huff. I want to be willing to be second place. Help me to humble myself and hate my selfishness.  May your spirit and Word rule in my life.

These are my sins, and many more. Just when I think I might be becoming more Christlike, I see that I am sinful and fleshly.  But, Father, YOU PROMISED that if I see my sins and agree with you about them and repent of them, that You will – for Christ’s sake – forgive me.

Christ’s death atoned for my sins – all of them – and satisfied Your wrath against me and them on the cross.  Even right now, You have said that He is interceding for me – pleading his own sacrificed blood before You for my sin. Cleanse me of these and all other unrighteousness you find in me – for His sake. As You promised.

I am standing on, depending on, this promise. As far as I understand Your Word, I am forgiven. My sins of this morning are wiped clean.  Thank You!

O keep these nasty “infections” from reoccurring again. (Oh, to be inoculated against sin!)  Holy Spirit, hit me upside my head when I begin to rebel! Word of God, permeate my dim wits and sound the alarm!  Father in heaven lead me, prod me, in the way that I should go and think and speak.

“Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” ~~~ Psalm 19:14

Worldliness and The Word

May2

ipad_mini 2254930bHalf way through my allotted time for Bible Reading and Prayer this morning, I was reading emails and posting on Facebook from my iPad.  My Bible, prayer journal and pen, and my “Morning & Evening” devotional book by Charles Spurgeon lay beside me…unopened. 

Once again I had been lured away from spending that first hour or two of the day with my God in prayer and reading the Word.

Half, yes, HALF of my precious time was gone! I’d wasted it on frivolous things, seeing who was ‘following’ me, who wanted to ‘like’ me or comment on a post I wrote, or who ‘desperately’ needed an email response from me right now!

Me. Me. Me.  All me, and not a thought for my God…  Groan.

O Father in Heaven,  I am so guilty of breaking Your first commandment, of putting other things (gods) before you in my heart and mind. Why did they seem so important?

I want to love You and serve You and obey You with ALL my heart. O please forgive me. Cleanse my heart and mind of worldliness and selfishness and glory-seeking. May I not presume on Your grace and mercy and love.  They are so precious to me. I thank You for grace and for forgiveness which was bought for me with the blood and death on the cross of your precious Son, Jesus.

And yet, I keep sinning this way, putting other things (self) before You in my heart and mind. I’m acting as if Your Word were only there “in case of emergency” or to read “if I have extra time.” But I love You! I love your Word!  I hate that I am so easily lured away.

Father, use the Sword of the Spirit (Your Word) to prick and slice and stab me when I seek other things before and besides You. Remind me that without You I am lost. Without Your Word  I am adrift with no way to hear Your Voice.

  • “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” ~~~ 1 John 2:15
  • “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ~~~ Matthew 22:37
  • “I love you, O Lord, my strength!” ~~~ Psalm 18:1
  • “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things!” ~~~ Psalm 119.37
  • “I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. ” ~~~ Psalm 119:48
  • “(My) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law (I will) meditate day and night.” ~~~ Psalm 1:2
  • “O God, You are my God; early will I seek you…”  “My soul will be satisfied… when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the watches of the night.” ~~~ Psalm 63, 1, 5-6